Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELL accident near Boulder, Colorado, July 16, 1993
On July 16, 1993 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELL (glider), registered N4362, was substantially damaged in an accident near Boulder, Colorado. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IMPROPER RIGGING OF THE SPOILER SYSTEM BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHICH CAUSED AN UNCOMMANDED SPOILER DEPLOYMENT AND PREVENTED SPOILER RETRACTION BY THE PILOT. A FACTOR WAS UNSUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 1993 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Boulder, Colorado · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Glasflugel STANDARD LIBELL STANDARD L
- Registration
- N4362 · registry record · serial 216
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, DURING INITIAL CLIMB FOLLOWING TAKEOFF, WHILE UNDER TOW ON A GLIDER FLIGHT, THE SPOILERS DEPLOYED AND COULD NOT BE RETRACTED. THE PILOT RELEASED FROM THE TOW AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE GLIDER IMPACTED IN A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE SPOILERS HAD BEEN MISRIGGED.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: balloon
- Flight time: 372 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 16, 1993
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: (type not recorded); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 20,000 ft; scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from BJC, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.